The Ganut

Episode 19: Anomaly at Bazek

Melva had woken up before everyone else as usual and had finished cleaning. She was preparing breakfast when she heard footsteps behind her. Nobody else but her got up early in this house. She turned and saw her sister who was very well dressed. A little too much for a single day's work. She understood immediately when she saw her sister's smile. She rushed to her chest and hugged her tightly. She thanked her very much. She explained to her sister with every single detail everything she needed to know in order to better explain the situation to the general. Mary grabbed a piece of bread, put some sugar in a glass of water, which she quickly drank before leaving. She opened the door, which didn't creak this time.

Mary went to the nearest stable and reserved a place for a "common carriage" heading west of the city, where the army headquarters was. The service had cost her two krika. Passengers were asked to wait 15 minutes while the vehicle and horses were ready. Mary saw that the pamphlets of the day were available in a shop nearby. One of the titles intrigued her to the point that she sacrificed 50 cents to buy it. Indeed, she had seen well. Michel had just been elected president of the Liberal Party of Activists. She was happy for him and hoped to congratulate him in person the next time they met. The carriage was finally ready and one of the stable employees came to warn Mary of the imminent departure. 

Garuk had just woken up and was ready to go home. He noticed that Melva seemed much more approachable today than she had been the day before. He greeted Melva, ate his breakfast, and headed for the academy. He didn't want to lose what was left of his savings by asking another question about something that was none of his business. Garuk, for a while, had been enjoying all his school days. Today was the last day of school before the weekend. He wanted to enjoy his last day with Makissi before the weekend arrived.

Lorentz had gone to the address given to him by the young lady. He was there and the place looked like an apothecary. He entered the shop and noticed that his intuition was right.

- Hi, are you an apothecary?

- Yes, good sir, how can I help you.

- Uh... Actually, it's the first time I've courted a woman so I don't know where to start.

- You wanted to woo me, an activist?

- Uh... would that be inappropriate? (in a shy voice)

- No, I'm kidding and if you start by asking me about me to start the conversation

Lorentz automatically wanted to ask her name but he was stopped in his tracks by the young lady.

- Not here, come on, I'm at work and I'm overwhelmed. Invite me over for a drink and we can talk. Decidedly, we must teach you everything. Pfff...

Lorentz therefore gave her the address of a restaurant near "Lidsor" county. He also asked her for the address of her residence so that the driver could pick her up at 8 o'clock in the evening.

Meanwhile, west of Sifane, Mary had arrived at the army headquarters and asked to see the general. Of course, she was denied access. She therefore pretended to be a servant, saying that it was Jerel's mother that he sent to warn him of a family emergency. So she was made to come in and wait in the waiting room of Jerel's office. Jerel was meeting with senior officials and Sifane's ambassador to Dizek. The ambassador had come to warn the Sifaneese army that the northerners (inhabitants of Bazek) seemed to have considerably increased their military manpower during the last 3 months. He wanted Sifane to investigate on his side to find out where his soldiers came from and what their intentions were. It is true that Bazek and Dizek were one and the same city before, the last big war 15 years ago had separated them. A significant part of the nobility of Bazek and the inhabitants who could not bear the aspirations, the bad management and the cruelty of the regime in place had been authorized to withdraw to the south of the country in order to take their independence.

The emperor, the king of the 10 cities had authorized this maneuver especially to sanction the king of Bazek who had allied himself with the rebels of the said war. Bazek had sided with Povidas, Guliane and Cerame in this war to overthrow the Great Emperor. The other cities emerged victorious at the end of the war and all the kings and generals of the rebel cities were killed in retaliation. Bazek is therefore led by the son of the former king who had sworn loyalty to the great emperor at the end of the war.

The meeting was over. Jerel returned to his office when one of the soldiers came to tell him that his mother had sent a servant to deliver an urgent message. He asked to bring her in.

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